THORNTON | The Village Board began its 2009 budget process Monday with differences of opinion on the condition of Thornton's finances.

Trustee Judy Diekelman said village department heads were asked for suggestions on how to reduce costs. Budget cuts are expected, as the board faces an estimated $400,000 gap between the past year's revenue and the current level of spending.

Trustee Paul Tomasik renewed his call for the village to make immediate layoffs before even discussing a 2009 budget to head off a "financial time bomb" in the spring.

Tomasik claimed that Thornton will run out of cash in May or June if the board does not drastically cut spending.

"I'm inviting the others on this board to go on record to say how they will defuse the financial time bomb that has been set up," Tomasik said.

Village President Jack Swan replied that he expects spending to be under budget at the end of the 2008 fiscal year. He also hopes to bring new "revenue streams" to Thornton, such as the sale of village-owned property.

"I haven't heard this time bomb or seen anyone light a fuse," Swan said. "I don't feel that we'll need to make drastic cuts, but there will be some cuts."

Trustee William Koch agreed that the board should get input from village departments before trying to make budget decisions.

"I'd like to give the department heads a shot at their own budgets first, before the board dictates specific line items that have to be cut," Koch said.

Village Administrator Jason Wicha insisted that the village finances are manageable.

"This idea of a 'financial time bomb' is overstated and overblown. We know that cuts will have to come and all of the department heads are aware of the situation," Wicha said.

"I think we're doing pretty well," Diekelman said. "We'll have to see how the rest of this year ends up. We should start this new year in better shape than we were at the end of last year."

In other business, the trustees approved a lease that would bring new money to the village.

The board voted 4-2 to lease 165 square feet of open land to Thornton Equipment Services for $8,400 a year. The property will be used for outdoor equipment storage.